A partner ministry of The General Commission on Religion and Race
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November 2024
Volume 14, No. 6
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DMC member Rev. Sara Martin advocates for disability justice within several agencies | |
TheVOICE
of the
United Methodist
Disability Connection
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Greetings in Christ!
The past year has been a time of growth for the Disability Ministries Committee of the United Methodist Church (DMC). There seems to be new awareness within UMC agencies about disability concerns and increased energy for addressing the the issues. Disabled people are part of the Body of Christ, a reality that is just beginning to be realized in the church!
These agencies and groups have invited the DMC to help magnify these efforts and make an impact for disability justice, equity, and engagement. We want to share some of these exciting developments with you. We also want to give you a chance to partner with us through your Giving Tuesday offering!
Rev. Debbie Hills, the outgoing chair of the DMC, is our guest editor for this issue. We thank her for the tireless work she has dedicated to growing disability ministries and moving our efforts into a more prominent place within our UMC connection. We wish her well as she begins a well-deserved retirement season.
Blessings,
Deaconess Lynn Swedberg, editor
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Collaborative work with Boards & Commissions:
- Higher Education and Ministry
- Religion and Race
- Discipleship Ministries
- Council of Bishops
Upcoming Events
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Opening Doors to Ministry Candidates with Disabilities Alongside Higher Education and Ministry | |
For many years we have heard from candidates for ministry who have disabilities and have faced significant barriers in living out their call. Qualified individuals have been turned away or have joined other denominations. Most district committees and conference Boards of Ordained Ministry are not equipped to offer needed accommodations and may even be surprised that disabled people are called into vocational ministry. Board members have not been exposed to a sound theology of disability or trained to see how ableism is embedded in their processes and interactions. These factors have an adverse effect on candidates seeking to be ordained ministers within the UMC. | |
Rev. Jonathan Campbell and Rev. Dr. Hank Jennings, co-chairpersons of the UM Association of Ministers with Disabilities) leading a training session. | |
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The DMC and members of the United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disabilities (AMD) reached out to the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) to discuss how we might help improve the candidacy process. Building on work started in the Western Pennsylvania conference in 2021 and continued in the New England Conference in 2023, we offered to help develop and provide needed training to district committees and conference Boards of Ordained Ministries.
The GBHEM invited Rev. Jonathan Campbell and Rev. Debbie Hills to meet with representatives from annual conference Boards to introduce them to disability theology and ways to develop a fair and equitable evaluation process for candidates for ministry who have disabilities. Since this meeting several additional conferences have contacted the DMC to arrange more in-depth training. We anticipate developing a full videotaped and written curriculum that will be available denomination-wide in the coming year or two. Our goal is to allow the God-given gifts of all qualified candidates to help us become the church God intends us to be.
Results from this groundbreaking endeavor were seen a few years later. A young woman, called to be a deacon, came a second time before the Board of Ordained Ministry for provisional interviews. What was different? The first time there was no mechanism in place to provide needed accommodations during her interviews and she was not recommended for commissioning that year. During her second interviews her disabilities were the same, the questions were the same, and many of the Board members were the same. The difference was that the accommodations she needed to demonstrate her readiness to enter into the provisional program were negotiated with her in advance and provided during her interview process. This time, the result was very different. She was approved for provisional membership and then commissioned as a provisional member of WPA Conference!
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Representing Disability and Passing General Conference Legislation with Religion and Race | |
Our partnership with the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) continues to grow. This strong working relationship enabled us to make a significant impact at the General Conference in Charlotte in April. Leaders from the UM Association of Ministers with Disabilities and the UM Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministries were also deeply involved in this effort. Seven pieces of legislation that we submitted were adopted and will benefit persons with disabilities within the United Methodist connectional system. In the coming months we will provide further guidance on how you can implement the recommendations, especially those found in the "Overcoming Ableism and Audism" resolution. | |
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Rev. Mimi Luebbers, Rev. Dr. Giovanni Arroyo, Rev. Debbie Hills, Deaconess Lynn Swedberg, and Bishop Delores Williamston at General Conference
DMC members staffed a display table to answer questions, provide resources, make new connections, and build relationships. We had fruitful conversations with representatives from most UM general agencies and structures to discuss how we can join forces for the good of all. We met with representatives from The Philippines to explore ways to further their work with persons with disabilities. GCORR, Global Ministries, the organizers of GC2024, and our annual conferences made it financially possible for us to be a part of this important gathering.
Beyond General Conference, we are developing an anti-ableism curriculum that will be distributed through GCORR. DMC Chair Rev. Debbie Hills was able to meet with both the outgoing and incoming Board of Directors to interpret our purpose and roles as well as the hopes and goals we share for creating a more inclusive denomination.
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Equipping Disability Advocates in Partnership with Church and Society | |
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We have forged an exciting partnership around disability advocacy and justice work with the General Board of Church and Society (GBCS) and support from GCORR. We co-led virtual sessions for disabled church leaders and allies interested in learning more about this often neglected area.
One common thread that emerged from this dialogue was that most people engaged in disability advocacy around the connection feel they are doing the work in isolation. In response we are setting up an online group to foster mutual support and sharing of ideas for more effective advocacy. If you are interested in being part of the group please contact information@umcdmc.org.
Several of our DMC volunteers (including Rev. Sara Martin, pictured above) serve as Directors on the GBCS Board, which will help ensure that disability concerns remain in the forefront of planning and decision-making during the next quadrennium.
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Angus Hancock, Rev. Mimi Luebbers, Deaconess Lynn Swedberg, Rev. Debbie Hills, and Rev. Justin Hancock showing support for disability justice at the GBCS display area. | |
Collaborating with Discipleship Ministries on Disability Awareness and Anti-ableism | |
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In August, the DMC was honored to take part in Discipleship Ministries' School of Congregational Development 2024 event in Schaumburg, IL. DMC’s Vice-chair, Rev. Mimi Luebbers, hosted a table in the display area. She also co-presented a 2-part workshop on “Worship and Disability: Anti-Ableist Practices for the Body of Christ" with Dr. Lisa Hancock, director of Worship Arts. Pastors and lay leaders along with bishops and conference staff from across the connection attended the event.
While measuring impact is difficult in this setting, they stimulated much thought and conversation about conscious and unconscious ableism and the role of people with disabilities in the life of the church. They suggested potential action steps and connected attendees with local and online resources. We believe that the seeds they planted will bear fruit!
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Rev. Mimi Luebbers with disability supporters Charity Goodwin, Claudine Leary, Meredith McDougle, and Jessica Taylor.
We are already working together on legislation for the next General Conference. One focus area is how Safer Sanctuaries policies can be developed to protect vulnerable adults without removing their agency or lumping disability support needs with procedures to protect children and youth. Many local church policies are written in a way that requires a disabled pastor to be supervised by two-unrelated adults, and we want to change that unfortunate interpretation of safety and abuse prevention!
Further collaboration is on the horizon. The DMC will be assisting Discipleship Ministries on implementing a multi-year grant they recently received from the Lilly Foundation. The project will explore and promote ways the church, especially small membership congregations, can be proactive in cultivating anti-ableist practices through multigenerational worship. We look forward with hope and expectation to what God has in store!
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Appreciating Support from Council of Bishops | |
Bishop Peggy Johnson meets with Placid Ndjekambodi to learn about disability ministry in the Democratic Republic of Congo | The Council of Bishops continues to provide the DMC with an active bishop who participates in our meetings and ministries. Bishop Peggy Johnson has served faithfully for many years, championing our cause to the boards and agencies. For instance, she proposed the 2014 Mission u Study on "The Church and People with Disabilities" through (the former) United Methodist Women. She then wrote the course textbook and served as a trainer for study leaders, bringing disability awareness to the forefront throughout the denomination. We will miss her greatly, but know she will continue her advocacy in her retirement activities. | |  |
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We are delighted to welcome Bishop Delores (Dee) Williamston of the Louisiana Conference as our new liaison from the Council of Bishops. As the President and chair of the Board of Directors, not only is she passionate about General Commission on the Status and Role of Women, but disability ministries within the UMC is also an area of passion. She hopes to raise the awareness and the importance of the ratification of Paragraph 4, Article 4 which includes gender and ability in our UM constitution.
Her resolve is to lend her voice and experiences to tell the story of not just her mother's struggles of being disabled but to bring to awareness all who face challenges due to disability. She knows this work is a long and slow work, but necessary as we strive to include all people and especially those of us with disabilities.
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Join Our Ministry Through Your Gifts! | |
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The United Methodist Church is far better when we work together, not in separate silos, but with each person or group supporting and adding to our shared life. The gifts and graces of disabled people enrich and strengthen the church God intends us to be. The DMC is here for the long run to help bring full inclusion, belonging, and accessibility into all levels of the church.
With your support we can continue this important ministry. Here are Three Easy Ways to Donate!
Peace,
Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church
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* * * Upcoming Events * * * | |
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Where Faith and Disability Meet: Focus on Veterans - Webinar
December 3, 2024; Sponsor: National Catholic Partnership on Disability
Learn from a panel of three Catholic veterans who are disabled.
Registration Link
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Supporting Older Adults in the Third Thirty - Webinar
December 3, 2024; Sponsor: Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network
Taught by Chris Pomfret, includes information about an ecumenical curriculum for leaders and congregations.
Registration Link
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Including People with Disabilities in Holiday Celebrations - Webinar December 4, 2024; Sponsor: Faith Inclusion Network
Led by Rev. Shannon Blosser, UMC pastor and father of an autistic son. Registration Link.
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Mental Health and Neurodiversity Panel - Webinar
December 5, 2024; Sponsor: Center for Autism and Theology
Three researchers at the University of Aberdeen discuss their respective research projects on autism, dyslexia, and OCD, covering topics such as anxiety, concept of self, and alternative approaches to mindfulness.
Registration Link
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Loud and Proud! Maximizing Your Accessibility Info for Guests - Webinar
December 12, 2024; Sponsor: Great Lakes ADA Center
Find out how best to include accessibility information on your church website.
Registration Link
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Spirituality & Mental Wellness: Help, Harm, & Healing - Webinar
January 22, 2025; Sponsor: Christian Theological Seminary
Taught by Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde, leader in the Insight Meditation tradition.
Registration Link
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